Apparatus for cooling fluids



May 23, 1950 E. BOCKMEYER 2,509,031

APPARATUS FOR COOLING FLUIDS Filed March 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS. 01 1 6470? JITO/P/V'YS.

y 1950 E. BOCKMEYER 2,509,031

APPARATUS FOR COOLING FLUIDS W/T/VESS: Wank/[Z5641 5/0672 500%777eycp mac Patented May 23, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR COOLING FLUIDS Eldon Bockmeyer, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 1, 1946, Serial No. 651,084

. 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in a method and apparatus for cooling fluids.

' One of the objects of my invention is the provision of means whereby the fluid to be cooled is successively cooled by both air and vapor cooling means.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means whereby air is first passed over a set of conduits through which the hot fluid to be cooled is delivered, whereby the temperature of the air is raised, and then passing the heated air over a second set of conduits to which the fluid is delivered from the first set of conduits over which water for vaporization is passed, whereby the rate of vaporization will be increased.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for wetting the second set of conduits over which the heated air is passed.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of means for continuously delivering water to the second set of tubes as well as the air which is passed over both sets of conduits.

Having now described, in a general way, the nature and purpose of this invention, I will now proceed for illustrative purposes to a detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section through one form of apparatus for cooling fluids;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 of the greater portion of the appara- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of apparatus for cooling fluids; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the line 44 of Fig. 3 of the greater portion of the apparatus.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a, casing having an upper head ill, a lower head l2 and a cylindrical side wall l4 between the heads, which is provided with a plurality of perforations [5 through which the air passes to the apparatus while the upper head it is also provided with a plurality of perforations 15 through which the air passes from the apparatus.

Located within the casing are two outer coils a and b of tubes and three inner coils c, the tubes of coils a and b being encircled with heat transfer fins l8, and may be supported in any desired manner, the supporting means being omitted for clearness, the convolutes of adjacent coils being in staggered relation to each other.

Supported within'the head") is an annular 2 channel member having an annular flange 20 connected to the side wall of the head ID, an annular flange 22 concentric with the flange 20 and a perforated web 24, there being an annular water trough 25 formed between flanges 20 and 22 to which water is delivered as hereinafter described, and from which trough water trickles in a continuous manner over the inner coils 0f tubes 0. The lower head [2 is arranged to form a water receptacle to which water is supplied through an inlet pipe 26, the flow thereto may be controlled by a valve in the pipe 26, or it may be controlled by means of a float. The level of the water is maintained by means of an overflow pipe 28 to which is connected a drain pipe 30 having a valve 32 for emptying or flushing the water receptacle.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the lower head I 2 is a tubular extension 34 which extends to a position somewhat above the water level in the head I 2. Rotatably mounted in a supporting bearing (not shown) in the tubular member 34 and a bearing 36 connected to the head I0, is a shaft 38 having a motor 40 connected to the lower end thereof.

Mounted on the shaft 38 is a fan 42 for drawing air through the perforations l5 over the coils a, b and c, while water for keeping the tubes of coils 0 wet is delivered to the annular trough 25 in the head In, is supplied from the water receptacle in the head l2 through a plurality of tubes 44 connected to the shaft 38 by means of rods 46 at the upper and lower portions of the tubes 44. The tubes 44 are placed diametrically opposite each other and are of the same weight and bent exactly alike so as to be in balance with each other and contain the same amount of water which enters the lower ends of the tubes which are curved in the direction of rotation of the shaft 38, as shown at 41, which act as impellers to force the water through tubes 44.

In order to break up the direct flow of air passing over the tubes of coils a, b and c, an annular slotted baffle 48 surrounds the water tubes 44 concentric with the axis of the shaft 38 within the coils, and forms a cylindrical flue for the air extending in a vertical direction substantially the full height of the coils.

The fluid to be cooled enters the outer annular coil of air cooled tubes at at 50, passes downwardly through coil a, passes from the lower end thereof to the lower end of the coil b, through a U-shaped connection 52, then upwardly through coil b, the upper end of the coil b is connected to a header 54. The three coils c are connected at their upper ends to the header 54 and at their lower ends to a similar header 56 having anoutlet pipe 58 connected thereto.

During the operation of condensing a gas or cooling a liquid, the fluid is passed through the successive coils a, b and c from inlet 50 to outlet 58, and during its passage therethrough, water is continuously fed to the trough 25 in the head l0, which wets the coils c by trickling over the coils while air is drawn in through perforations I5, which is heated by contact with the coils a and b and the heat transfer fins [8, partially cooling the fluid passing through coils a and b, and the fluid is finally cooled by the evaporation of the mosture from the coils c by the heated air passed over coils a and b, the air passing through the perforations 16 in the head It.

When condensing gases, it is desirable to re: move the condensate from coils a and b by bleeding the condensate from these coils directly to the outlet 58 by means 9; a trap to connected to th l-lrs ed connec ion cr wded w th 11 alve 52 therein whe eb he low t r u h the t ee 5 lee p t o t i liquid i pas e t rees-i the ap r tus i er oo in h t l u e h wn inF ss- .3 en eemsriees substantia l the sa e lem nt h wn in F 1 an 1 e cep t e m an e b ed n l quid free; t ai oo ed o l an hic the :i ew o ai is e ersed as el as the a p el d nd a r cooled cells- In Fies- 3 a a t e sam ie en eh e ere ha e b en a l e t th m element a i i 1 nd? i h i i' i e a d he end of the h ad i s ne e teii er the inl o th ai hile th a s es eut t ou a ou t .H in t e s e wel W o he eatin Ihe flange -25 of the trough 25' is Secured to he e d p o o th hea H1 at the c t e e 91 the perforated portion of the head 13' and iiorrns an inlet ior the air passing to a squirrel cage fan t? which forms aslotted air due within the coils substantially the full height of the coils, wh e th er :fle iee :23 forms a partition .-l etween the inlet and outlet of the ian.4 2, the air 21111512 p sa e iremth et O t tem t cas n fi t pass s e i e e ce a an b and he e the :wet eei e w i a ke t we ted by water tri klin rom tliet e eh Z5- El e water from the receptacle in head L2 is d ver d to the tr u 5 h ou h etube 45 and dieme ic y ppes te es 4! e nd n redially therefrom.

th t e #5 i conn ted t a s a 58' tatab y ineunt d n h a in s an 1 and s iretated b a me e A o t ep r end t r i- Ce e e to t e wer ort n o sh 3. and to t e tube i an im l e e1 vfer e e n th wa er t o h ub t5, e di de e s ve -e im el r n b cu e e e s f o an Archimedeansc-rew rnay'loe used.

in .order to prevent the water in the tube 45 tectumine o t e enemy n the d i the motor is stopped, a check valve or ralves in dicated in dotted lines at #9 may be provided, which are shown above the impeller, but, if dc;- ei ed :th c e k valve m y be l c ed below he impeller.

{.Phe operation of the structure shown in Eigs. 3-.and4 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 differing only n t the a e th u t e se ara i t e r e d e ai eele e s ar u him th e e er t o l 9 ha the ai firs teste ever e ai ee d eil ei e h n e er t e re e ee iee tells-e i l s 1 end 2,

illi asir nt ee o m in enti n i em the provision of a heat transfer device for cooling fluids by passing air over conduits to which the fluid to be cooled is delivered to reduce the temperature of the fluid, and then passing the heated air over wetted conduits to which the partially cooled fluid is delivered to further cool th fluid by the vaporization of the moisture from the last mentioned conduits.

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for cooling liquids comprising a. casing having a removable head, a water receiving receptacle in the lower end of the casing, an annular water trough in the head having a perforated bottom, a plurality of annular vapor cooled coils below the bottom of the trough, a plurality .of air cooled coils connected to each other and to the vapor cooled coils concentric with the vapor cooled coils and in the same horizontal plane, an inlet for the liquid to be cooled to one end of the air cooled coils, an outlet for t e eeelesi liquid it m ne end o t e sen eeeledgeils e erti l i flu W thin e eeile u 9 en. ..;1 y the h i ht o t e o s t re b ins v l t te e en the Well e th flue for h assa e 9! i Petween the e th u eu t ing coils, a shaft rotatably mounted concentrisa l oi the ee a 9 .rete iee t e sha tubul -r means e iv rin Wet rom he wa er .reeepteel t9 the ween wh n the the t i otates the eei e leavin ei nlet a u le eeenines. and meets ise iine a t n e e nee esi to he shaft ie swine e11." t r u h the ai n et. s tti t rad lly e er the peeled soils th n ver the vap 5. 9 194 ee e o t air ut t throu h the-flue at ight an es t t e lew of air over the coils.

An e emtus fe eeelins Quits o prisi a casin ha in been set les ee etle t ed supported ereen, a water e e eel i th owe end 9; the eas n e eeevler s ott tattle sue etteel the easin fo mi g e verti al an e. e e urelity 9 re e t ed t l su rounding the flue concentric therewith of sub.- ste tie l the same h h t fl e e '9 relitv of 9992?. ,e ils'e eneeted i ser es Se l medias t e ase; eco d eeils c n ect d to the apor e e es so ls th re bein n nle to one see 9? the a r eeled tell end n outlet time one end of the vapor cooled coils, a wate r e= ee vieetreiieh supp te t e mo abl he a shaft centrally mounted within the air flue m a s :te .re iee th ha e p ural t of tn es meeetes 9.2 -.tl e"l; f en a es hew, s id tubes extending upwardly and outwardly from the reeee e e o e Pei t sle ve h Wa troug i9; e ive ng ate to th ou h when lI- s ieit i ro at d sa d tr u h ei e o a ed te eeming a er e er th vel e -tub e e eeeneetesi ie the t ef ab v the s d e {1116 the eteie nl pe in i the a in in lat i'the e n etc me s for permi ties t e e ape 9 ev the wat r trou h, the eirteiee drawn in t reueh e n n s n he se n radia ly eve ti e ee l at i ht eii lee t the flew o eitth ee the fii nd but th ees? tee escape ab in 3. An apparatus for c a ca in havin eble heed wa r eeivie e r e tee e the ever end o h asin ea amulet t i' trough in the he d. havin it eerie etec bettem, a lur li y of annu ve.- e eee e c l e w t e t o o t tr h a plu al y 9f ai co ed e ls connect to each other and to h va or eeel d ee l ithinthe a Pe eeql e cats and in the s ine her zcnte Plan .e liquid nt n an inlet for the liquid to be cooled to one end of the air cooled coils, an outlet for the cooled liquidfrom one end of the vapor cooled coils, a shaft rotatably mounted concentrically of the tubes, means for rotating the shaft, a tube surrounding the shaft extending from the water receptacle to a point above the annular trough, radially extendin outlet tubes extending from the tube surrounding the shaft over the trough, an impeller in the lower end of the shaft for forcing water through the tube surrounding the shaft to the trough, check valves in the tube surrounding the shaft for preventing the return of water to the water receptacle when the impeller is not rotated, a vertical air flue within the coils substantially the height of the coils, there being slots through the wall of the flue for the passage of air between the flue and the surrounding coils, and means including a fan connected to the shaft for causing air to pass over the air cooled coils, then over the vapor cooled coils m a radial direction and then vertically through the flue.

4. An apparatus for cooling fluids, comprising a casing, an annular air cooled coil and an an nular vapor cooled coil connected thereto substantially concentric thereto, there being an inlet for the fluid to one end of one coil and an outlet from one end of the other coil, an annular trough above the vapor cooled coil, means for trickling liquid from the trough on the vapor cooled coil, means for continuously supplying liquid to said trough, a vertical air flue within the coils substantially the height of the coils, there being slots through the wall of the flue for the passage of air between the flue and the surrounding coils, and means for passin air in a radial direction over the air cooled coils, then over the vapor cooled coils and thence axially and upwardly through the vertical flue.

5. An apparatus for cooling fluids, comprising a casing, a plurality of air cooled coils connected in series and concentric to each other, a plurality of vapor cooled coils concentric to each other and to the air cooled coils, the convolutes of adjacent coils being staggered relative to each other, there being an inlet to one end of one of the air cooled coils and an outlet from one end of the vapor cooled coils for the fluid to be cooled, an annular water trough above the vapor cooled coils, means for trickling water from the trough to the vapor cooled coils, a water container in the casing, means for delivering water from said container to the trough, a vertical air flue within the coils substantially the height of the coils, there being slots through the wall of the flue for the passage of air between the flue and the surrounding coils, and means for passing air in a radial direction over the air cooled coils, then over the vapor cooled coils and thence axially and upwardly through the vertical flue.

6. An apparatus for cooling fluids, comprising a casing, a plurality of annular air cooled coils connected in series and concentric to each other, a

a plurality of vapor cooled coils concentric to each other and to the air cooled coils, there being an inlet to one end of one of the air cooled coils and an outlet from one end of the vapor cooled coils for the fluid to be cooled, a water trough above the vapor cooled coils, means for trickling water from the trough to the vapor cooled coils, a water container in the casing, means rotatable about an axis substantially central of the coils for delivering water to the trough from said container, a vertical air flue within the coils substantially the height of the coils, there being slots through the wall of the flue for the passage of air between the flue and the surrounding coils, means for rotating said rotatable means, and means for passing air in a radial direction over the air cooled coils, then over the vapor cooled coils and thence axially and upwardly through the vertical flue.

7. An apparatus for coolin fluids, comprising a casing having a substantially circular horizontal cross section, a plurality of annular air cooled coils connected in series and concentric to each other and the casing, a plurality of vapor cooled coils concentric to each other and within the air cooled coils, said vapor cooled coils being connected to each other and the air cooled coils, there being an inlet to one end of one of the air cooled coils and an outlet from one end of the vapor cooled coils for the fluid to be cooled, a water trough above the vapor cooled coils, means for trickling water from the trough to the vapor cooled coils, a water container in the casing, means rotatable about an axis substantially central of the coils for delivering Water from a water container to the trough, a vertical air flue within the coils substantially the height of the coils, there being slots through the wall of the flue for the passage of air between the flue and the surrounding coils, means for rotating said rotatable means, and means for passing air in a radial direction over the air cooled coils, then over the vapor cooled coils and thence axially and upwardly through the vertical flue.

ELDON BOCKMEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 87,144 Collins Feb. 23, 1869 1,291,926 Kleucker Jan. 21, 1919 1,908,463 Torrance May 9, 1933 2,121,115 Bergdoll June 21, 1938 2,128,890 Anderegg Sept. 6, 1938 2,218,596 Ashley Oct. 22, 1940 2,353,233 Gygax July 11, 1944 2,379,932 Schoepflin et al. July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 114,639 Australia Feb. 19, 1942 

